Perseverance
When you take on a new challenge, you may find that it is more difficult than you expected. Think about your first martial arts class, or your first class in a new subject. It may be exciting at first, but then you see that it’s actually a lot of work. Some people give up before they even get a chance to learn the basics, but others persevere and work hard on these new tasks.
Perseverance means you work hard at something without giving up. It is a character trait that is very important to all sports, but to martial arts in particular. Martial arts is a sport that takes time and dedication to become a true master, so only those with the work ethic to persevere can succeed.
The Importance of Perseverance
Although perseverance is important to martial arts, it is also important to many things in life. Things like studying, working, and learning any new skill, takes a lot of perseverance. You may have a natural talent for one thing, but there will be many others that will be difficult for you. This is a natural part of life, everyone faces different challenges, but it is how you meet these challenges that defines you as a person.
What do you think happens if you don’t have perseverance? Well, you may give up before you discover that you love something or that you are actually really good at it! Sometimes all it takes is a little perseverance to get you through the difficult part of learning something new, then you can enjoy the fun and excitement of becoming a skilled master.
Having Perseverance, Even When It’s Hard
It may be easy to make it through your first practice session or class in something new. It might be a little more challenging to make it through your first week or month of learning, but you can get through it. However, true perseverance may mean sticking to it for much longer. After the first time you do poorly on a new task, it is normal to feel discouraged and a little disheartened, but never let these feelings prevent you from improving.
When you feel discouraged or unhappy with your progress, take a moment to appreciate how far you have come. Think back to your first class when you didn’t know anything, and now think about how much you have learnt. It is like climbing a mountain. When you are only halfway up the mountain there may be a long way to go, but if you turn around and look at where you started, you will be proud of the distance you have traveled.
The Rewards of Perseverance
In martial arts and other sports, you will rarely be good the first time you try a new technique. You will see your seniors or teachers doing it very easily and may think this means you just aren’t cut out for it. But what you don’t see is all the hard work your peers and teachers have put into learning and training. If you stick to something new and persevere through the hard times, you will eventually become a very skilled master yourself!
